6lbs 9 ounces

Spaghetti squash.  I think I've said before, I may have gotten a little too excited about growing spaghetti squash this year.  One entire raised bed has now been taken over by the squash....pretty sure my carrot, tomatoes and peppers are all thanking me for planting them in the other bed.  Anyways made a delishes dinner last night with this bad boy.
My friend gave me a hint on cooking the squash : puncture it all over with a fork cook on each side for 3 minutes (in this case it to 4 minutes on each side)
Cut in half, scoop out seeds, and fork it to get the spaghetti looking stuff.  Make a pesto (1/3 cup walnuts, 1 cup basil, 2 garlic cloves, 1/3 cup olive oil in a food processor)
Throw pesto and squash in a sauce pan with a little butter and more garlic, heat up.  Chop up a variety of tomatoes and throw in...YUM!

Staying Home

Sometimes (or really ever since my kids were born) I really want to be a stay at home Mom.  Clearly this is not possible for me, and now that both kids are in school (and one almost out for that matter) I kind of missed the boat on that.  But to those that are, I think what an amazing gift you are able to give your kids!
Today was one of those perfect mornings, I wish could happen everyday.  Early morning long run before the kids woke up, home to make breakfast, make coffee, and have time to drink it.  Then onto outside work on the yard and garden, the kids picked up the rotting apricots (they each got paid $5) something I did as a kid.  After our hard work, reaped the awards and poured myself my favorite summer beverage and enjoyed reading in the hammock.   For all the cursing  I do at this old home, I really do love working and creating something of it!

Other than actually touching the bacon, I love making a big breakfast

Taking a "break" from picking up apricots

Workout 7/23-7/29

Monday 23rd- OFF
Tuesday 24th- 5.25 mile run
Wednesday 25th- 45 minute lap swim.  Ride house to end of pavement No 2 Canyon, back down to gun club, hard effort back up to horses, and back home..18miles
Thursday 26th- 6 mile run , 5x1 minute tempo efforts at 5k pace
Friday 27th - Bike 28 miles, hill repeats (home-sleepy hollow-Du hill x2, American Fruit x2- home)
                      Swim 1300M
Saturday 28th - OFF
Sunday 29th - 9 mile run (easy tempo)

Part 3 of 3 NYC pics

Picked a a few more of my favorites and think I am going to call it good!  It was a great trip, already looking forward to going back next February for a long weekend of Broadway with my girl!

FlatIrons Building

Central Park (maybe one of the only photos of all 4 of us)

Biking Central Park

Clearly we liked Central Park, stayed close to it and made many trip there

Lady Liberty herself

Cool kids on the subway (notice Lo's purse, she read how to not get mugged)

Mathew Broderick, on Broadway

Paid my respects to former co-workers of Untied, and all the heroes of Flight 93

Times Square

Perspective

Sometimes you need to change your thought!  That's what my friends are for!  Summers are a little different being divorced.  This is our second summer sharing time.  Prior to being divorced I loved summers with the kids.  I loved lazy afternoons, impromptu trips, weekends with no agenda's, loved this.  Unfortunately things change when you have to share.  In the summer Lars gets one extra night a week, so every other weekend he has the kids Friday night to Monday am, and his usual Wednesday night.  I do realize I have an ok schedule in light of the situation, I only go 4 days a month (in the summer) without seeing them a full day, but again these are MY kids, it would never be my choice to miss out on days with them.  I am thankful they were a bit older (13 and 8) when as this went down, can't imagine them being younger than that and missing out on so much of their life....ughh!
This summer, I was in a position to take Fridays off.  This has honestly been the best decision ever and taking full advantage of time with my kids, even if it means having a chill day, doing nothing but hanging at the house!
We have managed to hike most of the hikes we wanted to do, go to the waterslides, got in a Methow trip,  a NYC trip and will head to Bend in a couple weeks for an extra long weekend.  It has all required planning.  Gone are the days of just deciding to go on a whim, I now have a parenting plan!.  I was whining about sharing time to my friend and her reply "think of the alternative", this was the BEST perspective, and I needed that!  I could still be in an unfilled, unfaithful relationship, not getting to experience life the way it should be lived.  Sometimes you need that perspective, and you need your friends!  I love them.

That being said besides traveling this summer, Luke has been running with the cross country team every morning at 7am.  I am so proud of him and his commitment!  Lo is finishing a 2 week summer musical theatre camp at the PAC.  It's 9-3 each day.  Everyday when I pick her up she can't stop talking about how great it is, and what they've learned.  Wonderful experience!  Plus she has decided to give hip hop a try and does that Wednesday nights!  Love her spunk!  
Goodness school is just around the corner.....

If this is a dream, do not wake...

I love to travel (as if you didn't already know), in state, out of state, you name it.  I've heard people talk fondly of the San Juans and it's been on my list for years.  I am at a point in life, and with a person in my life I can do these things.  I couldn't be happier sharing these experiences with him.  Knowing it would be a long trip up there, we chose to go a weekend the kids were with their Dad (yet another thing I love about Rick, he knows to keep me busy every other weekend...THANK YOU love).  I'll post more pics later (from Rick's collection of photo's he took), but we ate A LOT of amazing food, biked the entire island with our messenger bags and camera's, took it all in.  Woke up leisurely in our beautiful condo overlooking the harbor, drank coffee at the various coffee shops, went to the most splendid farmers market, saw the Orca's, but the best was just taking it in with the man I love, coming and going as we pleased.  4 days of vacation bliss!

Workouts 7/16-7/22

Monday 16th- ride 26 miles...Eaglerock, weights at Golds Tuesday 17th - 7.5 mile run Wednesday 18th- swim 1200 Thursday 19th - 24 mile ride, Du course Friday 20th- 4.25 mile run Saturday 21st- 40ish miles on xc bike around San Juan Island

The First Date...

A year ago I went on the best first date of my life.  Yes that's a BIG statement, but true.  I went on some pretty great dates last summer, but I feel like exactly a year ago I went on my last first date.  I won't share the details of the date, but Rick pulled out all the stops, add the instant connection we felt towards each other, it was truly remarkable.  I smile just thinking about it, but it didn't stop there.  We've continued to get to know and compliment each other.  Have new experiences together.  I have never felt this level of trust in a relationship.  I don't question how he feels about me, I know and I feel the same.  I didn't know something this good even existed.  He is a man of integrity, honor, compassion, empathy and so much more.  He has become my voice of reason when I need it.  It delights me to give myself to him, as he is always giving of himself.  I have learned what it's like to be in a loving relationship.  I was not broken, just my past relationship was.  I can trust, with someone who is deserving of my trust.  I can hope, dream and plan of a future with this man.....
I used to look at one of my best friends and her boyfriend at the time (now husband) and how they'd look at each other with such admiration and respect.  Anyone around them could see it,  I wanted to feel that, and now I do....!
Today I celebrate our year together.  I consider everyday I get to spend with this man a blessing.  Rick, you have enriched mine and my kids life more than I could've imagined.  I am the lucky one...
Happy first year of something great!  Looking forward to celebrating this weekend!
Xoxo
J

Workout 7/9- 7/15

Monday 9th - 4 mile recovery run
Tuesday 10th- 26 mile ride
Wednesday 11th- OFF
Thursday 12th- 5 mile run, 40 min lap swim (50m pool), 20 mile bike
Friday 13th - Hike Coclchuck (8.5 miles)
Saturday 14th - Bike 26 mile (fairview, american fruit, West Eaglerock)
Sunday 15th - run 6 miles (perhaps it wasn't a run but rather a jog..)

A Little Colchuck

Our goal this summer is to take in some of the amazing hikes in this area.   So far we've marked off Sauer Mountain (in May), Lake Clara, Eightmile Lake and now Colchuck.  Last time the kids did Colchuck was in 2008, Lo was 6, and while she did it, it was a SLOW go.  This time it took us just over 4 hours (mosquito's may have been the reason for the brisk pace) of hiking (it's approximately 8.5 miles RT) and a half hour spent at the lake.  I was so proud of them, she didn't complain at all this hike, I think she actually prefers the hikes where you have to navigate your way through rocks and switchbacks!  A blissful day with the loves of my life, out enjoying some of nature's finest!

When it's hot....

 The curse of the old house!  This last weeks it's been in the 100's here.  Inside my house I seem to have three temperature zones.  The basement being the ice box, main floor is actually quite pleasant and the upstairs, well good lord it's a sauna.  We've taken to sleeping in the basement, the kids, dogs, cat and I (even Stuart's been moved to the main floor).  Last night however Luke and his friends took it over so Lo and I packed up the aero bed and went to the main floor......I think she kind of likes our mobile bed!

Post 2 of ? NYC

Rockafeller Center

St. Patricks Cathedral

Grand Central Station

NYC Post 1 of ?

Still sorting through pictures.  Here's a few from the first morning we were there.

U-Pick Season

It's a short season, but I love it!

Mountain Air

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I'm feeling like I don't have enough time with my kids, and get so frustrated with my situation (as I did two blog post ago), the best thing for me is taking them to the mountains.  It calms me down, and allows me that quite time with them.  To be with them, their thoughts, perspective and humor.  It was good real, real good.  We ended up doing Eightmile Lake, it's a great 7 mile hike. 

Workouts 7/2- 7/8

Monday 2nd- Fly home = day off
Tuesday 3rd - 5 mile run/ 20 minutes weights
Wednesday 4th - 38 mile ride (Squilchuck, Wenatchee Heights, a loop up there, down to Malaga hwy, home)
Thursday 5th - 45 minutes at  the gym (weights)
Friday 6th - Hike, Egihtmile Lake (7 miles)
Saturday 7th - Run 7 miles
Sunday 8th - Bike 30 miles, (Cashmere loop) 100 degree temp!

Most of the Time

Had a long conversation with one of my friends last night.  Just having a hard time.  Quite honestly it feels at this point and this much time past the divorce I should be used to things, but every once in a while I am angry.  Not that Lars and I aren't together, I don't miss that anymore, and wouldn't want that for myself.  Angry that I have a wonderful life, a wonderful man, a business, house, dogs, great friends all things that do make me happy, but no matter what something will always be broken in me, and that's that I don't get me kids everyday.  I don't get to choose when I want to go away for a weekend and where they will stay, I plan everything around those two weekends a month they are with their Dad, so I don't miss any other time with them.  I look ahead on the calendar to make sure they are with me this year for their birthday.  Christmas has a different feel, because I can't quite get as excited, because I have to share it. Angry that my parents get jipped on time with their grandkids.  These are things I can't change, and for the most part have adjusted, but every once in a while I am angry.
I've been feeling this way since vacation, thinking in order to take a week with my kids, I had to trade all kinds of time around, it became a series of email negotiations with my ex, just seems ridiculous!
Yesterday I got to see my Ex father in-law (who's is visiting Lars for a week) it was so good to see him, really good. And I have missed him too.  I've always had a good relationship with him and his wife and yesterday I was truly sad that in some degree after being family for over 14 years, and I still love them both dearly and care about them, but that too was taken from me.
The impact of divorce is not just to the immediate family it is far reaching to all those around.  I know my parents were hurt by Lars.  They loved and accepted him as family for over 16 years, when he got up and just walked out on everyone. 
I don't wish that I didn't care so much, because my kids are the most important thing in my life, and I am truly appalled when Moms are so complacent with their time, but I do wish at times I was better at handling it.
Thank you to my dear dear friend that talked me through tears late last night.  Can't say how nice it is to have an understanding ear to know I can call anytime.  Love you!

Back!

We're back and in full swing again!  Working through my NYC pictures and will post soon.  We LOVED the city, and already planning to go back soon!
 Luke left for a few days to the lake with friends (the life of a 15 year old).  Lo went to her Dads for the 4th, so I worked a little then went on a "Rick's choice" ride.  At 6 am he went for the Wednesday Velo ride so  when he asked where we wanted to ride, I figured he wouldn't want to do too much more, so I let him choose.  We did the reverse of his earlier ride (38 miles, half of which you climb)..up Squilchuck, up the heights, up the heights loop and thank God finally down to Malaga and home.  Don't get me wrong, I love this.  I love riding with him.  I have never ridden with someone of his ability before, and it pushes me to be a better rider, I WANT to be a better rider, I want to the best!   Then enjoyed our fabulous friends and their company, goodness I love spending time with them!
Today, it's a just Lo and I day.  We went to a pool play date (play date for Mom's and kids), resting then we're going on a date, movie and dinner.  It's her day, I cherish these moments we have together.